Nirmala, Nirma±ôÄå: 26 definitions
Introduction:
Nirmala means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
Alternative spellings of this word include Nirmal.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)Nirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²) refers to “devoid of dirtâ€�, mentioned in verse 3.52-53 of the ´¡á¹£á¹Äåá¹…g²¹³óá¹›d²¹²â²¹²õ²¹á¹ƒh¾±³ÙÄå (SÅ«trasthÄåna) by ³ÕÄå²µ²ú³ó²¹á¹a.—Accordingly, “[...] when hungry, one shall turn to bitter, sweet, astringent, and light food, [...]; to water [...] devoid of dirt [viz., nirmala], (and) destructive of dirt [...] (and that is) neither causative of effusions nor rough, (but) nectar-like among the beverages etc.; (and)—beautifully adorned) with sandal, cuscus, camphor, pearls, garlands, and (fine) clothesâ€� [...]â€�.
Note: As nirmala (“devoid of dirtâ€�) and malajit (“destructive of dirtâ€�) in 52d, so ²¹²ú³ó¾±á¹£y²¹²Ô»å¾±²Ô (“causative of effusionsâ€�), °ùÅ«°ìá¹£a (“roughâ€�), and ²¹³¾á¹›t´Ç±è²¹³¾²¹ (“nectar-likeâ€�) have been put verbally: ’b°ù²¹²µ (for ’b°ù³Ü²ú)—“causing effusionsâ€�, rtsub-pa yin-pa—â¶Äœb±ð¾±²Ô²µ
rough�, and bdud-rtsir mthsuṅs (“resembling nectar�).

Ä€yurveda (आयà¥à¤°à¥à¤µà¥‡à¤¦, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Ä€yurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram1) Nirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²) refers to “pure (i.e., a pure state)â€�, according to the ÅšrÄ«matottara-tantra, an expansion of the KubjikÄåmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the KubjikÄå cult.—Accordingly, “By the practice of the Yoga of Stillness [i.e., ²Ô¾±°ùÄ峦Äå°ù²¹²â´Ç²µ²¹], one obtains the fruit. She whose nature is movement (cara) moves, (and her movement is) divided into (downward) motion (³¦Äå°ù²¹) and upward motion (uc³¦Äå°ù²¹). That should be known as Stillness (nirÄ峦Äå°ù²¹). Stillness is not other (than this). (This is) where actions (³¦Äå°ù²¹) cease along with the activities (karman) of speech, mind, and body. When a pure (nirmala) state arises, that is said to be Stillnessâ€�.
2) Nirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²) refers to “stainlessâ€� (viz., stainless as pure crystal) and is used to describe Ardhanarīś±¹²¹°ù²¹, according to the second recension of the Yogakhaṇá¸a of the ManthÄånabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess KubjikÄå.—Accordingly, as BhadrakÄålÄ« said to ÅšrÄ«kaṇá¹ha: “[...] (You are) he, the Siddha who has been pierced (by the power of the Command) and, made of universal bliss, is accompanied by YogeÅ›varÄ«. [...] Beautiful he is, stainless as pure crystal [i.e., Å›³Ü»å»å³ó²¹²õ±è³ó²¹á¹i°ì²¹-²Ô¾±°ù³¾²¹±ô²¹]. (He is) the Lord (īś±¹²¹°ù²¹), supreme Åšambhu, who bears a divine form and is auspicious. [...]â€�.

Shakta (शाकà¥à¤�, Å›Äåkta) or Shaktism (Å›Äåktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraNirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²) refers to “purityâ€�, according to the Bá¹›hatsaṃhi³ÙÄå (chapter 12), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by VarÄåhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiá¹£a).—Accordingly, “When star Canopus reappears after its conjunction with the Sun, waters muddled by their contact with the earth will resume their original clearness just in the same way as the minds of the SÄådhus naturally recover their original purity [i.e., nirmala] after contact with the wicked. The autumn is attended by the CakravÄåka on both its sides (i.e., beginning and end); in it is heard the music of the swan; and its opening is marked by the beautiful red sky; in all these respects the season resembles a woman with a rising bosom, sounding jewels and betel-coloured mouthâ€�.

Jyotisha (जà¥à¤¯à¥‹à¤¤à¤¿à¤�, Âá²â´Ç³Ù¾±á¹£a or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomyâ€� or “Vedic astrologyâ€� and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraNirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²) refers to a “transparent (crystal)â€�, according to the Netratantra of Ká¹£emarÄåja: a Åšaiva text from the 9th century in which Åšiva (Bhairava) teaches PÄårvatÄ« topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 9.5-11, while explaining the universality of ´¡³¾á¹›t±ðÅ›²¹]—“´¡³¾á¹›t±ðÅ›²¹ is supreme. He is free of disease. His nature is inherent, fully enumerated, constant, eternal, and immovable. [He has] no form or color, and is the highest truth. Because of that, he is omnipresent. The splendid Deva delights in all Äågamas, pervades all mantras, and grants all siddhis. In this way, he is like a transparent crystal (nirmalaâ€�nirmalaá¹� sphaá¹ikaá¹�) sewn onto a colored thread, always reflected with its color, [and] seeking [to] look like this and that. [...]â€�.

Shaiva (शै�, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationNirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²) refers to a “pure (vision of knowledge)â€�, according to the ÅšivapurÄåṇa 2.3.33 (“The appeasement of Himavatâ€�).—Accordingly, as Vasiá¹£á¹ha said to Himavat (HimÄåcala): “O lord of mountains, listen to my words in every respect conducive to your welfare; they are not against virtue. They are true and shall bring about your joy here and hereafter. Statements, in ordinary language and in the Vedas, are of three forms. A scholar knowing all lores understands them by means of his pure (nirmala) vision of knowledge. [...]â€�.

The Purana (पà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤�, purÄåṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchNirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²) or Amala refers to “that which has no impurityâ€�, and is used to describe SamÄådhi and Paratattva (highest reality), according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise which deals absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—The Amanaska referred to (or qualified) SamÄådhi with several terms, which are all negative; [e.g., it has no impurity (nirmala/amala);] [...] The fact that such terminology is found in the Amanaska indicates that descriptions of Åšiva and the void-like meditative states in Mantramargic Åšaivism, were the basis of the descriptions of SamÄådhi and Paratattva (the highest reality) in this treatise. The Amanaska Yoga was consistent with the PÄåtañjala YogaÅ›Äåstra’s definition of Yoga, yet it described SamÄådhi in terms different to those of PÄåtañjalayoga; such as Nirmala/Amala—“that which has no impurityâ€�.

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as Äåsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan BuddhismNirma±ôÄå (निरà¥à¤®à¤²à¤�) is the name of VidyÄårÄåjñī (i.e., “wisdom queenâ€�) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century MañjuÅ›rÄ«mÅ«lakalpa: one of the largest KriyÄå Tantras devoted to MañjuÅ›rÄ« (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from MañjuÅ›rÄ« and were taught to and by Buddha ÅšÄåkyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Nirma±ôÄå).
: Brill: Åšaivism and the Tantric Traditions (tantric Buddhism)Nirma±ôÄå (निरà¥à¤®à¤²à¤�) refers to the â€�(that devotion which is) without blemishâ€� according to VÄågīś±¹²¹°ù²¹kÄ«rti’s TattvaratnÄåvalokavivaraṇa.—Accordingly, “This is the work to dispel all opposed opinions of VÄågīś±¹²¹°ù²¹ [VÄågīś±¹²¹°ù²¹kÄ«rti], whose dedication to the glorious SamÄåja [GuhyasamÄåja] is supreme and whose devotion is without blemish (²Ô¾±°ù³¾²¹±ôÄå)â€�.
: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara SamadhiNirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²) or NirmalatÄ«rtha refers to one of the “eleven holy bathing placesâ€� (±Ê³Üṇy²¹³ÙÄ«°ù³Ù³ó²¹), according to the Guru Mandala Worship (³¾²¹á¹‡á¸²¹±ôÄå°ù³¦²¹²Ô²¹) ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara SamÄådhi, which refers to the primary ±èÅ«ÂáÄå and ²õÄå»å³ó²¹²ÔÄå practice of Newah MahÄåyÄåna-VajrayÄåna Buddhists in Nepal.

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (±¹²¹Âá°ù²¹²âÄå²Ô²¹) are collected indepently.
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)Nirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²) is the name of a Kinnara appointed as one of the Divine protector deities of Åš²¹²â²¹, according to chapter 17 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the MahÄåsaṃnipÄåta-sÅ«tra, a large compilation of SÅ«tras (texts) in MahÄåyÄåna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—In the CandragarbhasÅ«tra, the Bhagavat invites all classes of Gods and Deities to protect the Law [dharma?] and the faithful in their respective kingdoms of JambudvÄ«pa [e.g., the Kinnara Nirmala in Åš²¹²â²¹], resembling the time of the past Buddhas.

Mahayana (महायान, mahÄåyÄåna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many ²õÅ«³Ù°ù²¹²õ of which some of the earliest are the various PrajñÄåpÄårami³ÙÄå ²õÅ«³Ù°ù²¹²õ.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsNirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²) refers to “spotlessâ€� (pure meditation), according to the 11th century JñÄånÄårṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Åšubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Then the wise [man] who has gone beyond virtuous meditation and attained infinite purity commences to meditate on absolutely spotless (atyanta-nirmala) pure [meditation]. He who is endowed with a robust physique etc., calm [and] whose behaviour is virtuous is also capable of meditating on pure meditation which is of four kinds ofâ€�.
Synonyms: SudhÄå, Åšuddha.

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance�) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarynirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²).—a (S) pop. ²Ô¾±°ù³¾²¹á¸·a a Void of dirt or impurity, lit. fig., clean, clear, pure, unsullied, guileless: also unadulterated, unalloyed &c.
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nirmaḷÄ� (निरà¥à¤®à¤³à¤�).—m A tree, Strychnos potatorum. Rox.
: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishnirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²).â€�a ²Ô¾±°ù³¾²¹á¸·a a Void of dirt or impu- rity; clean, clear, pure. Unadulte- rated.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²).â€�a.
1) free from dirt or impurities, clear, pure, stainless, unsullied (fig. also); नीरानà¥à¤¨à¤¿à¤°à¥à¤®à¤²à¤¤à¥‹ जनिः (nÄ«rÄånnirmalato janiá¸�) Bv.1.63.
2) resplendent, bright; µþ³ó²¹°ù³Ùá¹›h²¹°ù¾± 1.56.
3) sinless, virtuous; निरà¥à¤®à¤²à¤¾à¤ƒ सà¥à¤µà¤°à¥à¤—मायानà¥à¤¤à¤¿ सनà¥à¤¤à¤� सà¥à¤•ृतिनो यथà¤� (²Ô¾±°ù³¾²¹±ôÄåá¸� svargamÄåyÄånti santaá¸� suká¹›tino yathÄå) Manusmá¹›ti 8.318. (-lam) 1 talc.
2) the remainings of an offering made to a deity. °उपलः (³Ü±è²¹±ô²¹á¸�) a crystal.
Nirmala is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nir and mala (मल).
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryNirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²).â€�(1) name of a future Pratyekabuddha: ´¡±¹²¹»åÄå²Ô²¹-Å›²¹³Ù²¹°ì²¹ i.162.5; (2) name of a Buddha: Åš¾±°ìá¹£Äås²¹³¾³Ü³¦³¦²¹²â²¹ 169.9.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryNirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²) or Nirmmala.—mfn.
(-±ô²¹á¸�-±ôÄå-±ô²¹á¹�) 1. Clear, clean, free from dirt or impurities, (literally or figuratively.) 2. Bright n.
(-±ô²¹á¹�) 1. The remains of an offering made to a deity. 2. Talc. E. nir priv. and nala dirt.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryNirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²).—adj., f. ±ôÄå. 1. stainless, [±á¾±³Ù´Ç±è²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹] i. [distich] 47, M. M. 2. pure, [±á¾±³Ù´Ç±è²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹] ii. [distich] 134; clear, [±Ê²¹Ã±³¦²¹³Ù²¹²Ô³Ù°ù²¹] 248, 5. 3. bright, [Johnson's Selections from the MahÄåbhÄårata.] 12, 33.
Nirmala is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nis and mala (मल).
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryNirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²).—[adjective] stainless, clean, pure; [abstract] ³ÙÄå [feminine], tva [neuter]
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Nirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²):—[=nir-mala] [from nir > niá¸�] mf(Äå)n. spotless, unsullied, clean, pure, shining, resplendent, bright, [Upaniá¹£ad; MahÄåbhÄårata; KÄåvya literature] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] sinless, virtuous, [Manu-smá¹›ti viii, 318]
3) [v.s. ...] m. Name of Skanda, [Atharva-veda.PariÅ›.]
4) [v.s. ...] m. [plural] Name of a sect, [Horace H. Wilson]
5) [v.s. ...] n. talc, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, ha±ôÄåyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) [v.s. ...] = nir-mÄålya n., [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, ha±ôÄåyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryNirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²):—[nir-mala] (±ô²¹á¹�) 1. n. Remains of an offering; talc. a. Pure, clean.
: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Nirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Ṇi³¾³¾²¹±ô²¹.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संसà¥à¤•ृतमà¥� (²õ²¹á¹ƒs°ìá¹›t²¹³¾), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Hindi dictionary
: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryNirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²) [Also spelled nirmal]:â€�(a) clean; clear; pure; unsullied, spotless, stainless; ~[³ÙÄå] cleanness; clearness; purity; stainlessness.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
: Alar: Kannada-English corpusNirmala (ನಿರà³à²®à²²):â€�
1) [adjective] free from any adulterant; unmixed.
2) [adjective] free from anything that taints, impairs, infects, etc.; clear; pure.
3) [adjective] spiritually perfect or pure; untainted by evil or sin; sinless; saintly.
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Nirmala (ನಿರà³à²®à²²):â€�
1) [noun] the quality of being free from adulterant.
2) [noun] the quality of being unstained, unimpaired, uninfected; purity.
3) [noun] spiritual purity or perfection; sinlessness; saintliness.
4) [noun] absence of mental agitation, fear, apprehension, etc.
5) [noun] great splendor.
6) [noun] a sinless, spotless, saintly man.
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Nirmaḷa (ನಿರà³à²®à²³):—[adjective] = ನಿರà³à²®à²² [nirmala]1.
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Nirmaḷa (ನಿರà³à²®à²³):—[noun] = ನಿರà³à²®à²² [nirmala]2 - 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary1) Nirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²):—adj. 1. clear; stainless (as sky; water); 2. pure; clean;
2) Nirmala (निरà¥à¤®à¤²):—n. 1. the remains of an offering to a deity; such as flowers; 2. â†� निरà¥à¤®à¤¾à¤²à¥à¤� [nirmÄålya]
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+7): Nirmala bhatta, Nirmalacarya, Nirmalacitta, Nirmalacitte, Nirmaladarpana, Nirmalagada, Nirmalahridaya, Nirmalahridaye, Nirmalai, Nirmalajala, Nirmalakrishna, Nirmalam, Nirmalan, Nirmalanjana, Nirmalaprakasha, Nirmalasahaja, Nirmalasphatika, Nirmalasthita, Nirmalata, Nirmalatai.
Full-text (+55): Anirmala, Sunirmala, Nirmalata, Nirmalatva, Nirmalatirtha, Nirmalaprakasha, Nirmala bhatta, Vinirmala, Nirmaladarpana, Nirmalacitte, Nirmal, Nairmalya, Nirmalacitta, Nirmalam, Nirmalahridaya, Nirmalahridaye, Nirmalate, Nirmalita, Nirmalasphatika, Parinirmala.
Relevant text
Search found 90 books and stories containing Nirmala, Nirma±ôÄå, NirmaḷÄ�, Nirmaḷa; (plurals include: Nirmalas, Nirma±ôÄås, NirmaḷÄås, Nirmaḷas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 1.11.15 < [Chapter 11 - Description of Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra’s Birth]
Verse 3.2.28 < [Chapter 2 - The Great Festival of ÅšrÄ« GirirÄåja]
Verse 5.24.93 < [Chapter 24 - The Killing of the Kola Demon]
The body in early Hatha Yoga (by Ruth Westoby)
Bhagavad-gita (with Vaishnava commentaries) (by Narayana Gosvami)
Verse 14.16 < [Chapter 14 - Guṇa-traya-vibhÄåga-yoga]
Brahma Sutras (Govinda Bhashya) (by Kusakratha das Brahmacari)
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada DÄåsa)
Text 7.60 < [Chapter 7 - Literary Faults]
Text 10.107 < [Chapter 10 - Ornaments of Meaning]
Text 10.163 < [Chapter 10 - Ornaments of Meaning]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
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